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Rugby

American  
[ruhg-bee] / ˈrʌg bi /

noun

  1. Also called rugger.  Also called Rugby football.  Usually rugby a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle, and is characterized chiefly by continuous action and prohibition against the use of substitute players.

  2. a town in Warwickshire, in central England.

  3. a coeducational preparatory school in Rugby, England, founded in 1567.

rugby 1 British  
/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

  1. Also called: rugger.  a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted

  2. another name for Canadian football

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Rugby 2 British  
/ ˈrʌɡbɪ /

noun

  1. a town in central England, in E Warwickshire: famous public school, founded in 1567. Pop: 61 988 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Rugby

Probably earlier than 1835–40 Rugby for def. 1; Middle English Rokeby, Rookby, Old English Rocheberie, possibly earlier Hrōcaburg, Hrōceburh (unrecorded) “Hroca's fort,” influenced by Old Norse býr “town, settlement”; borough ( def. )

Compare meaning

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Explanation

In rugby, players pass an oval ball and tackle each other to score points, all while wearing minimal protective gear. Rugby is a high-energy sport that originated in England. In rugby, two teams compete to carry, pass, or kick the ball to score points by grounding it in the opponent's goal area or kicking it through their goalposts. Unlike American football, rugby players don't wear much protective gear, which makes the game intense and physical. Rugby is known for its teamwork, strategy, and the camaraderie among players, making it a popular sport worldwide.

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Vocabulary lists containing rugby

Excerpt from "Playing the Enemy"

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"There is probably a line of thinking that audiences will just keep growing, but they are actually hard to maintain," Rugby Football Union director of women's rugby Alex Teasdale told BBC Sport.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The pair, who are engaged, were part of the Red Roses squad that won the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil last year.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Lawes joined the Pro D2 club two years ago after captaining Northampton Saints to their first Prem Rugby title in 10 years in 2024.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Maher's online clout, combined with an Olympic bronze for the USA women's team at Paris 2024 and the 2025 Rugby World Cup, has turbo-charged the women's game stateside.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Mike was coming toward me in khaki shorts and a striped Rugby shirt, waving.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.